Interleukin-1β:Friend or foe for gastrointestinal cancers

Gastrointestinal(GI)cancer is a malignancy arising in the digestive system and accounts for approximately a third of increasing global cancer-related mortality,especially in the colorectum,esophagus,stomach,and liver.Interleukin-1β(IL-1β)is a leukocytic pyrogen recognized as a tumor progression-related cytokine.IL-1βsecretion and maturation in inflammatory responses could be regulated by nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent expression of NLR family pyrin domain containing 3,inflammasome formation,and activation of IL-1 converting enzyme.Several studies have documented the pro-tumorigenic effects of IL-1β in tumor microenvironments,promoting proliferation and metastatic potential of cancer cells in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo.The application of IL-1β inhibitors is also promising for targeted therapy development in some cancer types.However,as a leukocytic pro-inflammatory cytokine,IL-1β may also possess anti-tumorigenic effects and be type-specific in different cancers.This editorial discusses the up-to-date roles of IL-1β in GI cancers,including underlying mechanisms and down-stream signaling pathways.Understanding and clarifying the roles of IL-1β would significantly benefit future therapeutic targeting and help improve therapeutic outcomes in patients suffering from GI cancer.

Phenotypic Characteristics and Function of NK Cell Subsets in cART-Treated HIV-1-Infected Individuals

Natural killer (NK) cell plays an important role in an innate immune response against viral infection. The kinetics regulation and functional consequences of NK cells in the pathogeneses of diseases are uncertain. We analyzed NK cell distribution and function of successfully combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-treated HIV-1 infected individuals in Khon Kaen Regional Hospital, Thailand. The results demonstrated that increased percentage and the total number of NK cell in cART-treated HIV-1 infected patients with preferential high levels of CD56dimCD16+ and CD56-CD16+ subsets when compared with a control group even in undetectable viral load (<40 copies per milliliter). Concomitantly, decreased cytotoxic activity measured by CD107asurface expression with maintained IFN-γ production implied the impairment of cytolytic activity was not recovered after cART treatment. Thus, altered NK cell frequency and function by HIV-1 infection are not completely recovered with cART, which may contribute to impaired cellular immune response and persistence of HIV-1.

γ-aminobutyric acid B2 receptor:A potential therapeutic target for cholangiocarcinoma in patients with diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND The association between diabetes mellitus(DM)and the increased risk and progression of cholangiocarcinoma(CCA)has been reported with unclear underlying mechanisms.Previous studies showed thatγ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)B2 receptor(GABBR2)was upregulated in CCA cells cultured in high glucose(HG)conditions.Roles of GABA receptors in CCA progression have also been studied,but their association with DM and hyperglycemia in CCA remains unclarified.AIM To investigate the effects of hyperglycemia on GABBR2 expression and the potential use of GABBR2 as a CCA therapeutic target.METHODS CCA cells,KKU-055 and KKU-213A,were cultured in Dulbecco Modified Eagle’s Medium supplemented with 5.6 mmol/L(normal glucose,NG)or 25 mmol/L(HG)glucose and assigned as NG and HG cells,respectively.GABBR2 expression in NG and HG cells was investigated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot.Expression and localization of GABBR2 in CCA cells were determined using immunocytofluorescence.GABBR2 expression in tumor tissues from CCA patients with and without DM was studied using immunohistochemistry,and the correlations of GABBR2 with the clinicopathological characteristics of patients were analyzed using univariate analysis.Effects of baclofen,a GABA-B receptor agonist,on CCA cell proliferation and clonogenicity were tested using the MTT and clonogenic assays.Phospho-kinases arrays were used to screen the affected signaling pathways after baclofen treatment,and the candidate signaling molecules were validated using the public transcriptomic data and western blot.RESULTS GABBR2 expression in CCA cells was induced by HG in a dose-and time-dependent manner.CCA tissues from patients with DM and hyperglycemia also showed a significantly higher GABBR2 expression compared with tumor tissues from those with euglycemia(P<0.01).High GABBR2 expression was significantly associated with a poorer non-papillary histological subtype but with smaller sizes of CCA tumors(P<0.05).HG cells of both tested CCA cell lines were more sensitive to baclofen treatment.Baclofen significantly suppressed the proliferation and clonogenicity of CCA cells in both NG and HG conditions(P<0.05).Phospho-kinase arrays suggested glycogen synthase kinase 3(GSK3),β-catenin,and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)as candidate signaling molecules under the regulation of GABBR2,which were verified in NG and HG cells of the individual CCA cell lines.Cyclin D1 and c-Myc,the common downstream targets of GSK3/β-catenin and STAT3 involving cell proliferation,were accordingly downregulated after baclofen treatment.CONCLUSION GABBR2 is upregulated by HG and holds a promising role as a therapeutic target for CCA regardless of the glucose condition.

BCR–ABL-specific CD4^(+) T-helper cells promote the priming of antigen-specific cytotoxic T cells via dendritic cells

The advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI)therapy markedly improved the outcome of patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia(CML).However,the poor prognosis of patients with advanced-phase CML and the lifelong dependency on TKIs are remaining challenges;therefore,an effective therapeutic has been sought.The BCR–ABL p210 fusion protein’s junction region represents a leukemia-specific neoantigen and is thus an attractive target for antigen-specific T-cell immunotherapy.BCR–ABL p210 fusion-region-specific CD4+T-helper(Th)cells possess antileukemic potential,but their function remains unclear.In this study,we established a BCR–ABL p210 b3a2 fusion-region-specific CD4+Th-cell clone(b3a2-specific Th clone)and examined its dendritic cell(DC)-mediated antileukemic potential.The b3a2-specific Th clone recognized the b3a2 peptide in the context of HLA-DRB1*09:01 and exhibited a Th1 profile.Activation of this clone through T-cell antigen receptor stimulation triggered DC maturation,as indicated by upregulated production of CD86 and IL-12p70 by DCs,which depended on CD40 ligation by CD40L expressed on b3a2-specific Th cells.Moreover,in the presence of HLA-A*24:02-restricted Wilms tumor 1(WT1)235–243 peptide,DCs conditioned by b3a2-specific Th cells efficiently stimulated the primary expansion of WTI-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs).The expanded CTLs were cytotoxic toward WT1235–243-peptide-loaded HLA-A*24:02-positive cell lines and exerted a potent antileukemic effect in vivo.However,the b3a2-specific Th-clone-mediated antileukemic CTL responses were strongly inhibited by both TKIs and interferon-α.Our findings indicate a crucial role of b3a2-specific Th cells in leukemia antigen-specific CTL-mediated immunity and provide an experimental basis for establishing novel CML immunotherapies.